The Best Mexican Desserts

Mexican cuisine is famous for its meats and salsas, but traditional Mexican desserts are equally delicious and flavorful. One bite of a churro or scoop of arroz con leche and you’ll fall in love with authentic Mexican desserts. Never overlook the dessert section at a Mexican restaurant, and don’t be afraid to try out easy Mexican dessert recipes in your own kitchen. Rich chocolates and warm cinnamon notes make these the best Mexican desserts.

Churros

Churros are one of the most traditional Mexican desserts. Dough is cut into long rolls, deep fried, and coated in cinnamon sugar. Similar to a doughnut, they’re tasty and warm all on their own, but dipping them in chocolate sauce or filling them with caramel, fruit compote, or a sweet glaze is the perfect way to make them even sweeter.

Flan

This creamy, caramel dessert originally hails from Spain, and it’s an indulgent gluten free Mexican dessert. Eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla are whipped together and baked into the custard flan. With its buttery-soft density and rich caramel flavor, it’s one of the best Mexican desserts.

Tres Leches Cake

In one of the easy Mexican dessert recipes, three different milks combine to create the moistest cake you’ve ever tasted: tres leches cake. Evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream are the heart of this recipe, and as the cake soaks up all the creaminess, it becomes sweet and soft.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

If you’re looking for a simple gluten free Mexican dessert, reach for a warm mug of Mexican hot chocolate. It’s also one of the easy Mexican dessert recipes perfect for a chilly evening. Simply dissolve a tablet of Mexican hot chocolate in warm milk over the stove, and then mix it all together in a blender for extra foaminess. A sprinkle of cinnamon on top enhances the deep chocolate flavor. Using low-fat milk makes this one of the healthy Mexican desserts.

Capirotada

One of the traditional Mexican desserts during the Lenten season, capirotada is similar to bread pudding. Rolls of bread are soaked in a syrup made from sugary piloncillo, cloves, and cinnamon before being baked with nuts, seeds, raisins, and other dried fruits.

Pan de Muerto

While pan de muerto is one of the best Mexican desserts, you can only find it in stores during the month leading up to Day of the Dead. The sweet bread is flavored with orange zest and coated with butter and sugar. The cross of bones on top symbolizes the circle of life, making it one of the authentic Mexican desserts for Day of the Dead.

Arroz con Leche

Arroz con leche is a classic gluten free Mexican dessert. This rice pudding is a light yet flavorful dessert. Depending on the type of milk you use, this can also be one of the healthy Mexican desserts you opt for. Cinnamon is the classic spice, but you can also try out other toppings and even mix in raisins.

Paletas

When it comes to healthy Mexican desserts, paletas are the sweetest option. These authentic Mexican desserts are made with fresh fruits frozen together into a popsicle. With the natural flavors of mango, cucumber, pineapple, lime, and berries, paletas are a healthy and refreshing treat on a hot afternoon. As you wander the streets of Mexico, it’s not hard to find a paleteria with a wide variety of flavor combinations.